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Family Sports & Fitness

Splat: You’re OUTDirty fun indoors or out, paintball is one of the safest sports, and most popular, with more than 10 million players in the U.S. alone!

Paintball began as a pastime just 40 years ago, and has gained immense popularity worldwide. Rules for playing paintball vary widely, although most rules are designed to ensure that participants enjoy the sport safely. Paintball can bring a fun and physical day of play for the whole family.

Rent or Own? Playing at a commercial or on-base park is the most economical option until you know you love the sport. Check with your local base to see if the Outdoor Recreation program through Air Force Services offers family or league play. And don’t forget to ask about military discounts at off-base paintball venues. Here’s a general price breakdown:

Rent equipment and play time at a non-military sponsored commercial paintball arena: • Around $30/day per person

Buy your own equipment and play anywhere you set up your own field, any time you want:• Guns: $30 and up• 500 rounds paintballs: $10 • CO2 tank: $15• Goggles and/or facemask: $20-$70• Old clothes to get painted in: $0

Paintball BasicsThe goal of paintball is to eliminate opponents by hitting them with paint-filled, breakable, gelatin paintballs shot from a carbon dioxide or compressed air powered “paintball marker” or gun.

Main Games

Woodsball: The original paintball games• May be played on several acres• Player cannot see more than a small subsection of the field at any given time• Involves any number of players• Games generally last for an extended period of time • 30 minutes to multiple days• Cold weather play often hinders the use of CO2 because lower temperatures don’t allow the gas to expand properly

Capture the Flag• A team must take the flag from the designated flag station• 2 flags are placed at each team’s flag station at the opposite side of the field or• 1 flag is placed in the center of the field • The flag must then be “hung” when captured

Elimination• A team or an individual player must eliminate all of the opposing team members King of the Hill• Two or more teams attempt to capture and hold one or more bases• The game is won by the team that holds the base(s) for the longest amount of time

Speedball: Fast competition inside or out• Characterized by a small field filled with man-made bunkers• Wooden spools, crates, corrugated sewer piping, customized inflatable obstacles, plywood uprights• Fields are usually less than half the size of a football field• Located on level, treeless terrain• Frequently played at indoor facilities• Players can see from one end of the field to the other• Three to 10 players per team• Used in tournament play• Only format of paintball that is played professionally in the three major professional paintball leagues• NPPL, NXL, and Millenium series• Points may be awarded for• Staying in the game the whole round • Shooting someone out • Grabbing the flag• Hanging the flag